ALCOHOL-free public spaces and businesses not selling alcohol on pay day were suggested as means of reducing crime at a conference yesterday in Midrand.
Researchers, business groups, and the Human Rights Commission came together at the Action for a Safe South Africa conference, facilitated by the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (Idasa), to analyse reasons why crime had risen despite higher government spending, and to suggest how community groups and individuals could work together to fight back.
In line with the aims of the conference, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research researcher Barbara Holtmann envisaged a future South Africa where communities were safer, where public transport was improved, where children could play safely and where women did not have to feel that night time was a curfew.
To reach this ideal, Holtmann suggested the idea of a booze-free pay day. She said that this, combined with retailers providing substantial discounts on things like basic foods or school shoes around pay day, could help re-channel the approximately R41billion a year that is spent on alcohol and alcohol marketing.
According to Holtmann, about R16 of every R100 that changed hands in South Africa is spent on alcohol.
Research also showed that about 47percent of murder victims tested positive for alcohol at the time of death, as did 66 percent of trauma victims, while 50 percent of rape victims were found to be either drunk or high at the time of the incident.
Questioning the perception that gun ownership could lead to personal safety, she said that about 66 firearms a day were lost or stolen from their owners. Police believed that each lost or stolen firearm was then used to commit at least eight crimes.
Holtmann also questioned the increased use of security companies in neighbourhoods, saying that these may have the e ffect of moving opportuni stic crime to other areas. In other cases, she said, their presence could lead to criminals changing their tactics. For example, when they robbed properties, criminals may be more likely to be armed.
SA Human Rights Commission chairman Jody Kollapen recognised another side effect of crime.
He said people were isolating themselves to the point where even humanitarian instincts, like stopping to help someone in distress, were moderated by a fear of crime.
“That’s not the kind of people we want to be.”
Kollapen said that even though government spending on crime had risen to R68bn at present, up 1500 percent from 1990, “we are no safer”.
South Africa’s dysfunctional past had to be taken into account when seeking solutions to present problems, he said, but it should also be remembered that this country has a history of overcoming formidable obstacles.
A Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation representative, David Bruce, said poverty was one of the main contributing factors of crime.
Releasing a study on the causes of crime, commissioned by the Department of Safety and Security, Bruce said a lack of parenting skills was flagged as a contributing factor to crime.
Another factor contributing to a rise in serious offences was that many South Africans believed crime and violence were normal characteristics of society.
Business Against Crime chairman Siphiwe Nzimande said business was working towards helping make crime “very costly” for perpetrators.
He said businesses could assist police in their investigations by installing CCTV cameras, and also making sure that the images provided were clear and gave a full picture of the criminals in action.
On the subject of stolen vehicles, he said that most cars stolen in South Africa were not exported to neighbouring countries, but were reregistered in South Africa or sold as parts.
He hoped a new polymer microdot car identification system, which insurers were showing interest in, would reduce car theft and the market for stolen parts.
The convention will be open to the public at Vodaworld on Thursday. Desmond Dube, who initiated the Million Man March Against Crime in June, is the master of ceremonies. — Sapa
Researchers, business groups, and the Human Rights Commission came together at the Action for a Safe South Africa conference, facilitated by the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (Idasa), to analyse reasons why crime had risen despite higher government spending, and to suggest how community groups and individuals could work together to fight back.
In line with the aims of the conference, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research researcher Barbara Holtmann envisaged a future South Africa where communities were safer, where public transport was improved, where children could play safely and where women did not have to feel that night time was a curfew.
To reach this ideal, Holtmann suggested the idea of a booze-free pay day. She said that this, combined with retailers providing substantial discounts on things like basic foods or school shoes around pay day, could help re-channel the approximately R41billion a year that is spent on alcohol and alcohol marketing.
According to Holtmann, about R16 of every R100 that changed hands in South Africa is spent on alcohol.
Research also showed that about 47percent of murder victims tested positive for alcohol at the time of death, as did 66 percent of trauma victims, while 50 percent of rape victims were found to be either drunk or high at the time of the incident.
Questioning the perception that gun ownership could lead to personal safety, she said that about 66 firearms a day were lost or stolen from their owners. Police believed that each lost or stolen firearm was then used to commit at least eight crimes.
Holtmann also questioned the increased use of security companies in neighbourhoods, saying that these may have the e ffect of moving opportuni stic crime to other areas. In other cases, she said, their presence could lead to criminals changing their tactics. For example, when they robbed properties, criminals may be more likely to be armed.
SA Human Rights Commission chairman Jody Kollapen recognised another side effect of crime.
He said people were isolating themselves to the point where even humanitarian instincts, like stopping to help someone in distress, were moderated by a fear of crime.
“That’s not the kind of people we want to be.”
Kollapen said that even though government spending on crime had risen to R68bn at present, up 1500 percent from 1990, “we are no safer”.
South Africa’s dysfunctional past had to be taken into account when seeking solutions to present problems, he said, but it should also be remembered that this country has a history of overcoming formidable obstacles.
A Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation representative, David Bruce, said poverty was one of the main contributing factors of crime.
Releasing a study on the causes of crime, commissioned by the Department of Safety and Security, Bruce said a lack of parenting skills was flagged as a contributing factor to crime.
Another factor contributing to a rise in serious offences was that many South Africans believed crime and violence were normal characteristics of society.
Business Against Crime chairman Siphiwe Nzimande said business was working towards helping make crime “very costly” for perpetrators.
He said businesses could assist police in their investigations by installing CCTV cameras, and also making sure that the images provided were clear and gave a full picture of the criminals in action.
On the subject of stolen vehicles, he said that most cars stolen in South Africa were not exported to neighbouring countries, but were reregistered in South Africa or sold as parts.
He hoped a new polymer microdot car identification system, which insurers were showing interest in, would reduce car theft and the market for stolen parts.
The convention will be open to the public at Vodaworld on Thursday. Desmond Dube, who initiated the Million Man March Against Crime in June, is the master of ceremonies. — Sapa
